The Three-Terminal Adjustable Regulator (3TAR) is a widely used linear regulator. Its main features include: the input end (input voltage, Vin), the output end (output voltage, Vout) and the adjustment end (adjustment voltage, Vadj) three terminals, you can adjust the end to set the output voltage value. Common three-terminal adjustable regulators include LDO (low voltage drop) regulators and linear regulators. Here are their categories and uses:
1. LDO regulator: LDO regulator is a low voltage drop regulator, its main advantages are high efficiency, low static current, and small output noise. LDO regulators are commonly used in electronic devices that are sensitive to power supply noise, such as microcontrollers, sensors, audio amplifiers, etc.
2. Linear voltage regulator: The linear voltage regulator is another common three-terminal adjustable voltage regulator that reduces the input voltage to the desired output voltage in a linear manner. The advantages of linear voltage regulator are stable output voltage and low ripple, but its efficiency is low and the heat is large. Linear regulators are often used in applications that require high output voltage accuracy and ripple, such as power adapters and LED drivers.
When selecting a three-terminal adjustable regulator, the appropriate model should be selected according to the specific application requirements, input voltage range, output voltage accuracy, output current and other factors. At the same time, pay attention to the heat dissipation design and safety specifications to ensure the stable operation of the equipment.
Three-terminal adjustable regulators can be divided into linear regulators and switching regulators. The linear voltage regulator uses the transistor as the control element, and realizes the voltage regulation function by adjusting the operating point of the transistor, which is suitable for the occasions requiring lower noise and higher stability.
Switching regulators use switching components (such as MOS tubes) to achieve fast switching, by adjusting the switching frequency and duty cycle to achieve voltage regulation function, suitable for high-efficiency, high-power output occasions. The three-terminal adjustable voltage regulator is widely used in power supply, electronic equipment, communication equipment and other fields to provide stable DC voltage.